For Immediate Release
August 23, 2012
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Nebraska Counties Designated as Secretarial Disaster Due to Drought Conditions
(LINCOLN, NE) August 23, 2012 – "The remaining eight counties in southeast Nebraska received primary Secretarial Disaster Designations due to drought by Secretary Vilsack yesterday, making all of Nebraska eligible for federal assistance," noted Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director Dan Steinkruger. "The designation provides emergency loan assistance and the potential for livestock program assistance that is pending in Congress."
A current Nebraska map listing the approved counties is available on the Nebraska FSA website at www.fsa.usda.gov/ne. The website also provides links to the USDA Drought page and the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Secretary Vilsack also announced that the Risk Management Agency (RMA), which manages the crop insurance program, is changing its special provisions statements to allow haying and grazing of cover crops this fall. The flexibility will help farmers if they choose to plant a cover crop without risking crop insurance coverage for 2013. This will assist some farmers and ranchers with much needed forage this fall and winter. Farmers with questions can contact their crop insurance agent for clarification.
The FSA is making changes in its emergency loan program to assist forage producers with funding to purchase forage before harvest. Normally farmers and ranchers had to wait until after the production cycle ended.
Steinkruger added, "Secretary Vilsack has continued to evaluate program flexibility and options to assist farmers, ranchers, and landowners during this drought."
Assistance from USDA programs is available from any of the 71 Nebraska USDA Service Centers. Contact your local office for additional information.
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